Voice
Laozi
Laozi, 'the Old Master', is the sage traditionally credited with the Tao Te Ching and honoured as the founder of Taoism. The earliest account of his life, by the historian Sima Qian around 100 BCE, already mixes legend with history, and many scholars think the text grew from more than one hand.
Authorship, dates or origin are uncertain or disputed; read this background with care.
References
Works
Quotes (10)
“He who is satisfied with his lot is rich;”
“He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent. He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty.”
Watch on YouTube: Nietzsche: How To Become Who You Are ↗Academy of Ideas on Nietzsche and self-knowledgeWatch on YouTube: Alain de Botton with Chris Williamson ↗Alain de Botton on understanding your inner voice and emotions“He is free from self-display, and therefore he shines; from self-assertion, and therefore he is distinguished; from self-boasting, and therefore his merit is acknowledged;”
“The more that he expends for others, the more does he possess of his own; the more that he gives to others, the more does he have himself.”
“The tree which fills the arms grew from the tiniest sprout; the tower of nine storeys rose from a (small) heap of earth; the journey of a thousand li commenced with a single step.”
Watch on YouTube: Start with a tiny habit | BJ Fogg ↗BJ Fogg discusses this ideaWatch on YouTube: Atomic Habits summary (James Clear's ideas) ↗James Clear's tiny-habits ideas, summarised by another channel“He whose (desires) are few gets them; he whose (desires) are many goes astray.”
“Calm and repose are what he prizes; victory (by force of arms) is to him undesirable.”
“The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour.”
Watch on YouTube: All it takes is 10 mindful minutes | Andy Puddicombe ↗Andy Puddicombe discusses this idea“But simple views, and courses plain and true Would selfish ends and many lusts eschew.”
Watch on YouTube: The School of Life: Lao Tzu ↗The School of Life introduces Lao Tzu“It is the Way of Heaven to diminish superabundance, and to supplement deficiency. It is not so with the way of man. He takes away from those who have not enough to add to his own superabundance.”